Ozil Offers To Pay Gunnersaurus’ Wages
Mesut Ozil has offered to pay the wages of Arsenal mascot, Gunnersaurus, who has been made redundant by the club as part of cost-cutting measures due to the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic.
Arsenal announced on Monday that Jerry Quy, who has played the role of Gunnersaurus for the past 27 years was one of 55 redundancies.
The Gunners later paid Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid £45m for the signing of Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey.
Arsenal’s players and coaching staff took a 12.5 percent reduction in wages in April but Ozil, who is one of the club’s highest earners on £350,000 a week, refused a pay cut.
Ozil’s current contract expires at the end of this season but he is keen to see Gunnersaurus keep hold of his job so far as he remains an Arsenal player.
The World Cup winner wrote on Twitter: " I was so sad that Jerry Quy aka our famous loyal mascot Gunnersaurus and integral part of our club was being made redundant after 27 years.
"As such, I'm offering to reimburse Arsenal with the full salary of our big green guy as long as I will be an Arsenal player, so Jerry can continue his job that he loves so much."
Fans have still not been allowed to return to stadiums in England as part of efforts to stifle the spread of coronavirus.
